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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested a 38-year-old South African woman, Will Jessica Ann, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, for allegedly attempting to smuggle 5.75 kilograms of heroin into Nigeria. According to the agency, the suspect was apprehended on July 6 during the clearance of passengers arriving on Qatar Airways Flight QR1433 from Doha, after officers discovered 14 large blocks of heroin concealed inside two suitcases. She was travelling with her three-year-old son, whom investigators believe she used as a cover to avoid suspicion during security screening.
The NDLEA said the suspect initially denied having any checked luggage, but officers matched the baggage tags on the suitcases to the claim tags attached to her passport, prompting her to admit ownership of the bags. Preliminary investigations indicate that she is allegedly linked to a transnational drug trafficking syndicate operating along the Cambodia–South Africa route alongside her husband and associate, Jan Coenraad De Jager.
NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi said the arrest forms part of the agency’s intensified crackdown on international drug trafficking through Nigeria’s airports. The agency added that investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other members of the suspected drug network, while the suspect is expected to face prosecution after the conclusion of inquiries.
